Street vendors from Shivajinagar, Ulsoor and Gandhinagar staged a dharna at the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike head office protesting against the civic authority's apathy in restoring them their means of livelihood.
Staging the protest under the aegis of Beedhi Vyaaparigala Hakkotaya Andolana, the vendors demanded an end to the “unconstitutional” evictions that were also in violation of the National Street Vendors Policy. The street vendors staged a protest till around 4 p.m.
Evicted
On behalf of the andolana, Vinay Sreenivasa said that in July, more than 600 street vendors were evicted without any prior notice and their belongings thrown out.
They had staged a protest at the BBMP office on October 21 this year demanding restoration of their livelihood.
“Mayor S.K. Nataraj had then assured us of a meeting along with Commissioner Siddaiah by October 28. Even after a month, it was not done. We are left with no option but to stage another protest,” he said.
Mayor's refusal
He said the Mayor refused to meet them and sent word through Additional Commissioner (Welfare) V. Ashok that he would meet with them on December 15 at 5 p.m.
Later, Opposition Leader M. Nagaraj also assured the vendors that he would ensure that a meeting is fixed for that day. He also said that if the meeting does not take place, he would then join the protest.
The evicted vendors want their old place back and a space of 1 m by 1 m be allotted to each of them.
